January - February 2008 | Volume 7, Issue 1

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Photo: WHO

The 1918 Spanish Flu Epidemic killed over 50 million people worldwide.

Recent studies of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic have dramatically altered scientists' understanding of its transmission and could provide insight into planning for future pandemics, according to a recent study co-authored by a Fogarty scientist.

The Spanish Flu pandemic killed over 50 million people worldwide. Historical records suggest that an early pandemic wave struck Europe during the summer of 1918. The researchers obtained surveillance data that were compiled weekly in Copenhagen and included medically treated influenza-like illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths by age.

The study team, including Fogarty scientist Cecile Viboud, report only .02 percent of Copenhagen's population died during the summer wave, as compared with .27 percent during the fall wave. Similar patterns were observed in three other Scandinavian cities and likely represent a wider European or even global experience, the study suggests.

The Copenhagen summer wave may have been caused by a precursor pandemic virus that transmitted efficiently - but lacked extreme virulence - according to the authors. They conclude that a mild summer wave of a flu pandemic may be a positive occurrence, because it may afford the population some protection against lethal subsequent waves.